Back when I started getting into skin care and k-beauty I was told foaming cleansers were bad because the foaming agent was sensitizing and harsh on skin, but now foaming cleansers seem quite popular in the k-beauty scene. I believe even the original skinfluencer I learned it from has started using them. 

So, what’s the deal? Are roaming cleansers good or bad? I’m trying to up my cleansing game and I’ve yet to find any HG cleansers, so I’d really like to know. My skin barrier is pretty good, but it used to be very damaged so I’m careful with my products since I know how unpleasant a damaged skin barrier is.

Thoughts on foaming cleansers?

I use a microfiber towel (which I love) to pay my face down after my cleansing steps and I’m trying to get better about washing it but I’m just wondering exactly how often I should wash it. Part of me thinks having a 100% clean towel every time would be really nice but that seems impractical unless I had like 7 of them and washed them all at the end of the week. The towel is only ever touching clean skin, so how often should I be washing it? Have you guys noticed any change in your skin when you washed or forgot to wash your face towel?

How often do you wash your face towel?

I’ve been layering a light weight watery or milky toner with a thicker one lately and my skin has been loving it. I have two thick toners/essences I absolutely love, the skin essentials lotion by Rovectin and the COSRX 96 snail essence, but I don’t have any lighter ones I love the same way.
I’ve been alternating between the Soonjung toner, the Puream one, and the P:rem one linked below which are alright, but I’d like to try something else. The puream one is just a little tiny bit thicker than I’d like and the other two are the perfect weight/texture but just a bit basic, mainly the Soonjung one (which is the whole point of the Soonjung line)

So many of the toners/essences I want to try are quite thick so I need some lighter weight recommendations.

Favorite watery toner?

I’m looking for a real HG hydrating serum to alternate with my more treatment based serums (Faded by Topicals and a Curology serum with some tretinoin) and I haven’t found anything that really wowed me. I’ve tried some snail mucin ones that were fine, a vegan version of that, the glow recipe hydralonic acid and ceriminde serums, and a few Iniuk trial serums. None were bad per se but I didn’t see many results. 

What are your favorite hydrating/plumping serums that help leave your skin feeling super hydrated and lovely? Bonus if it helps gives you that soft dewy look.

Favorite hydrating serum?

I’m looking for a good wash off mask to add to my rotation so I thought I’d ask y’all what your favorite wash off masks are. Ideally not clay masks though since personally those just dry my skin out and I’ve never liked the texture. 
I’ve been looking at a couple which I’ll link below, but any suggestions are appreciated!

Favorite wash-off mask? (That’s not a clay mask)

This product was gifted to me by picky and Mary&May in exchange for my honest review. 

Yet another All-Star product from Mary&May. My redness prone skin loves this stuff. It feels silky and soothing upon application and provides very solid all day moisturizer

I received this product from picky and Mary&May in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a big fan on this cleanser. It’s listed as a gel cleanser but it foams up a little bit like a foaming cleanser which I really like. It foams up the perfect amount; just enough to glide over my skin with zero tugging but not enough that it starts to get into my nose when I breathe.

It’s definitely more of an instant effect vs a long-term change. My cheeks still have the blotchy they usually have in the mornings, but these pads calm it down for the entire day. 

I cannot state this clearly enough; these things are MAGIC if you struggle with chronic redness. They have a very cooling feeling upon application but it’s not overly chemical like some menthol cooling products are. I like to put these on my cheeks and let them sit for about 10 minutes, then rub the rest of the product around my face and neck. 
I struggle with chronic blotchy redness on my cheeks that never really goes away no matter how good my routine is. It’s not full medical rosecea, but it is very tenacious. 
These toner pads significantly decrease that redness when nothing else does. It’s truly incredible. 

If you have ever had issues with your skin barrier in the past or are just aiming to increase your skin barrier health over-all I cannot recommend this serum enough. It is my only Holy Grail status serum and I’m going to use it for as long as I live. 
The texture is very medium weight for a serum but it sinks into my skin fairly quickly. It doesn’t feel like much upon application but it didn’t take me long to notice the positive changes in my skin. 
It’s hard to target a specific detailed change but my skin just looks healthier overall; I feel less prone to skin dehydration and reactive redness plus I have gotten very few breakout since I started using this regularly. 

I added this sunscreen to my aresonal this year and I am never going without it again! This is hands down my favorite sunscreen. 

It’s a little more substantial feeling texture-wise than the Isntree hyaluronic sunscreen (which I purchased at the same time) and leaves my skin less shiny. It doesn’t leave me shiny at all, actually, which is exactly what I wanted. I’d say this has more of a satin finish; still a little hydrating, but very natural and not oily. 

I seriously can’t recommend it enough. It’s a perfect all-arounder sun screen. 

YuWy